Agglomerating machine



1 Feb. 16 192,6. 1,573,680

PQA. I. CUVELIER AGGLOMERATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 29, 1924 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16,1926. 1,573,680

P. A. CUVELIER AGGLOMERATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 29, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet5 EzaezzZan @ZZVVZMZ l a'yaza '62 I a Q Feb. 16 1926. 1,573,680

P. A. CUVELIER AGGLOMERATING mourns Filed Feb. 29; 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet;

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fgr're c1222"; ('wvek'er Patented Feb. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,573,680 (PATENT OFFICE.

PIERRE ANSELME IeNlicE oUvELIEIc-oF HAUZBOURDIN, FRANCE.

AGGQLOMERATING MACHINE.

Application filed February 29, 1924. Serial N0. 696,027. 2

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIERRE ANSELME IGNACE CUvELiER, citizen of theRepublic of France, residing at 79 Place de lHospice, Haubourdin, Nord,France, have invented new and useful-Improvements in AgglomcratingMachines, for which I have filed applications in France, Mar.'27, 1923,now issued as French Patent 564,397, and in Great Britain, Dec. 21,1923, Serial Non 32,112, 1928, and of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a machine for moulding building blocksof the type utilizing a ramming mechanism combined with a jigging orvibratory mechanism; It

The controlling means for the ramming mechanism and for the mechanismfor removing the cores from the mould, this latter operation beingeffected by the presscylinder which also serves for the two jigging orvibrating operations,

And also showing device for removing the cores from the mould and thelike.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the lower portion of the machine.

Figs. 3 and 8*, read together, show a side elevation of the machine.

Fig. t is a plan view of the upper portion of the machine and, 1

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a'block manufactured by the machine.

The .agglomerating machlne, shown in the I drawing, comprises fourguides 1 which are fixed to the core-removing frame 2 surround ing themold. lateral walls 3 (Fig. 1) of an end wall 4 and front wall 5 (Fig. 3The bottoin6 of the mould comprises a removable plank 6 which rests upona stay 7 supported by a cross piece fixed to the frame of the machineand engages at 8 in a notch formed in the base of the lateral walls 3 ofthe mould. The frame of the machine is formed by guide columns 9,serving as guides for the frame 11 of the rammer lO. The columns 9 alsoThe mould consists of two fixed casing 13 of the press-cylinder, thecontrolling mechanism 14, 15' for the compressed fluid, the ram-cylinder16, and the support a cross bar 12 which carries the press-cylinder 17.The press cylinder 17 is carried by a movablecross bar 17 which in turn1s connected by bars 18 and stays 19 to the' core-removing frame 2. Thepress cylinder 17, through the connections 18 and 19, serves to impart ajigging or vibratory motion to the frame 2 and also to remove the coresfrom the mould.

The core-removing frame 2 surrounds the mould during the ramming andjigglng operationsand catches 2O engaging pro ections 21 on the moldconnect said frame and mold together during these operations. Thev mouldcarries projections 21 and 22,- by

which the mold-may be engaged to transport it from the machine to thedrying apparatus.

With this end in view, the projections 22 of the mould rest upon theelevating frame 23 of a transporter carriage, the fixed frame 24: ofwhich hassupporting grooved wheels moving upon triangular rails 25 fixedto the frame of the machine at its extremity.

The mold,comprising the parts 4, 5, 6, is divided interiorly into aseries of compartments, each of which constitutes a mouldelement formoulding one or more blocks.

In the present case, (Figs. 1 and 2) these mould-elements are four innumber, each of which can mould two blocks. One-0f these blocks is shownin horizontal section at the upper left-hand corner of Fig.2 andinperspective in Fig. 5. 28 represents the inter iial divisions of themould; 27 shows the cores forming the hollows in the blocks; 26

represents the bars rigidly fixed to the cores by angle-irons andconnecting these cores together; these bars, as well as the divisions28, passing freely through" vertical slots 47 (Fig. 2) formedin the topof the walls of the mould, the ends of said bars and diviassemblage ofthese bars, divisions and cores forming a rigid partitioned structurewhich, 1

sions being fixedto the frame 2, the entire sheet metal plates orshutters 42 which can ings 40 of the carriage.

pivot about axes 41 in the adjustable bear- These cavities, whose numberand arrangement correspond to the rows of blocks to be moulded, receivein succession the mixture from the hopper during the movement of thecarriage below said hopper, as will be seen below, and then dischargeitinto the mould, when the car riage has been brought into positionabove them, by the simultaneous manipulation of the shutters 42. Forthis purpose the shutters are subjected at their lower ends to themotion of helicoidal cams 35 carried by a shaft 34 journalled in thecarriage 39 and provided with a hand-wheel 33, these cams being soarranged as to open or close the shutters 42 at will, according to thedirection of rotation of the hand-wheel. Each pair of cams comprises twohelical parts extending only upon a portion of the periphery of theshaft 34 and of opposite pitch and the shutters tend to open under theexcess of the weight of their lower parts when empty, as well as whenfull, so that extensions 42 formed on their lower ends bear constantlyagainst said cams, the pitch of these latter, combined with the frictionon the shaft 34, being such that said shaft always remains in anyposition into which it has been brought. hen the shutters 42 are openedby means of the hand-wheel 33 the material contained in the cavities 44falls into the moulds, being preferably guided in its fall by theinclines 45 with which the cores 27 are provided (Figs. 1 and 3 In orderto vary the extent to which the cavities 44 can be filled, additionalmetal plates 43 are preferably mounted, so as to be able to slide, uponthe plates or shutters 42. j

The carriage is filled automatically during its passage under the hopper30, the register 31 of which opens and closes by means of abutments. Thecarriage 39 also actuates, by any suitable means, the discharge anddistributing vanes 32 of the hopper. This device has only been shown inFig. 3 in a diagrammatic manner and by way of example.

Filling of the moulds is effected in a plurality of stages preferably intwo stages at equal volumes, each filling operation being followed by ajigging or vibrating operation and then by ramming.

The vibrating or jigging operation is effected by imparting to the frame2, after having engaged catches 20 of said frame under the teeth 21 ofthe mould, a vertical reciprocatory movement by means of .thepress-cylinder 17 acting through the inter mediary of the bars 18mentioned above. lVith this end in View, air is admitted by means of thevalve 14 into the press-cylinder 17 so as to raise it and consequentlyto raise the frame 2 and the mould, whereupon this air is allowed toescape so as to allow the press-cylinder 17 and the mould to sink. Thisdouble operation is repeated as often as necessary. In this way a seriesof vibrations is obtained which enables the material to pack together inthe mould.

The ramming operation is effected by means of the ram 10 driven by thepiston 16 mentioned above. With this end in View, the distributor 15 isactuated so as to cause the air below the piston 16 to pass to the upperface of this piston. Equilibrium is distributed by the weight of theram11-10 which falls into the material contained in the mould. In order toavoid the formation of ridges, which might result from the fact thatcertain portions of the surface of the mould have not been rammed, thehead of the ram 10 has slots 10 which engage exactly with the connectingbars 26 and the divisions 28 and the height of these bars 26 28 is suchthat after the second or final filling of the moulds, the upper level ofthe said bars is flush with the surface of the non-rammed concrete,whereas after the second ramming and before final removal from themould, their lower level is flush with the level of the compressedblock. It follows that the portions under the bars and divisions 26, 28which are consequently not rammed, are finally at the same level as therammed portions, whereby the formation of portions in relief is avoided.

After this second ramming operation the cores as well as the internalpartitions are removed from the mould by means of the same ap iaratus aswas used for the jigging operation, that is to say, by the help of thepress-cylinder 17 and the devices 18, 19, 2, 26, but after havingdisengaged the catches 20 from the lugs 21 so that the mould remains inplace. In this movement. the assemblage of the cores 2?, theirattachingbars 26 and the internal divisions 28 of the mould slidesthrough the head of the ram until it contacts with the frame 11. At thismoment, the base of the cores stands some distance above the level ofthe mould and this latter can there fore be easily removed andtransported to the drying room.

The transportation of the mould to the drying room is effected ,bymeansof a carriage 24 running on triangular rails 25 (Fig.

hopper to be filled and is then brought directly above the mould andits-contents are discharged into the mould by opening the shutters 42 bymeans of the hand-wheel The carriage is then brought under the hopperfor the second filling and .the first jig-1 ging operation is carriedout, to be followed by the first ramming operation as descr bed.

After the ram has been raised, the car riage is brought back in a,filled condition-to its position abovethe'mould and the second series ofoperations, namely, the filling of the mould, jigging and rammingiseffected as before, the ramming being stopped when the block has-beenlowered to the desired height. The ram is then secur d in any suitablemanner. Theram being secured against movement and thebase of the head ofthe rain 10 being in contact with the compressed block's, removal of thecores is effected byv partitions 28. After the cores have beenremoved,air is admitted under. the piston 16, which results in raising the ram."There is now no obstacle to the transport of the mould 3, 4, 5, to thedrying room by meansof the carriage 24. WVhen it arrives at the dryingroom, the mould is lowered-by means of the lift-carriage 23-so as todeposit the plank 6 upon a support placed thereunder. mould is thenopened, which is effected by removing the front movable wall 5 andswinging the two lateral walls 3 about the rear wall 4. After havingraised the said walls by means of the carriage, the mould is raised anda second plank 6 is inserted in the recesses 8 of the lateral walls ofthe, mould and this latter is carried back again to the machine, inwhich the accurate guiding of the fixed frame 24 upon therails 25ensures its correct positio'nup'on the stay 7; the device comprising themembers 2, 26,27, 28, is lien allowed to descend again for. the next 5moulding operation, theframe 2 falli'ng'into the mould and the'elements26, 27, 28 falling around the mould and within the slots formed in saidmould.

This machine presents, among others, the following advantages: I

The actuation by compressed air is applicable to the three operations oframming, jigging and removing the cores, these opera tions beingcombined in the same machine and effected by means of controllingdevices The (1.6, 17 which'are of reduced size'and are wellprotectedfrom dust.

The combinedjigging and core-removing devices render it possible, whilegreatly reducing labour charges, to reduce to a considerable extent thenumber of unbaked blocks a (fragile products) which are broken duringtheir transportation from the machine to the drying room,- while at thesame time ensuring that the mould is positioned exactly and mingoperations. I a The method of operation of the devices for removing thecores 27 and theinter'nal divisions 28 of the mould is mechanical; onthe other hand,-the opening of the mould in the drying room, which, iseffected by hand by moving the walls apart or by removing them, enablesa considerable reduction in the resistance to removing the blocks fromthe Vmc-uld to be effected, so that it is possible to mould a greaternumberof blocks at a single operation. This system of removing theblocks from the mould, moreover, renders it possible to blocks. Theblocks are generally formedto the number of eight at each operation andare practically twice as long as they are broad,

and the thickness of their middle wall is generallydouble that of theirside Walls.

The invention has only been described and shown by way of example and inno way limitatively, and it is obvious that various modifications couldbe made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 7

1.' An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, meansfor delivering a charge of material to said mould, means for imparting apgging motion to said mould and means for ramming said material insaid'mould, all said means-being actuated by compressed air. a

- 2; An agglomeratlng machine comprising in combination a mould, meansfor delivering a charge of material to said mould,

means for imparting a jigging motion tosaid mould and means for ramming.said material in said mould, all said means being actuated by'compressedair and the operations being effected each in twostages.

3. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, acarriage for supplying a charge of material to said mould, means forimparting a jigging motion to. said mould, and, means for ramming saidmaterial in said mould, said carriage and the 'jigging and ramming meansbeing all actuated by compressed air.

4. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a hopper for thematerial a mould, a carriage movable by compressed air under said hopperto receive a charge firmly upon the frame of the 'machine,- wv-hich isabsolutely necessary for the ramproduce shaped of material and capableof being returned by compresseed air to deliver the charge to saidmould, and means actuated by compressed air for imparting a jiggingmotion to said mould and for ramn'iing the material in said mould.

5. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, a hoppercontaining the material, a carriage movable by compressed air undersaidhopper to receive a charge oi material and adapted to be returned bycompressed air to deliver the charge to said mould, means actuated bycompressed air for imparting a jigging mo tion to said mould and forramming the material in said mould, and means for transferring saidmould to a device for transport ing it to a drying mechanism.

6. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, a hoppercontaining the material, a carriage movable by com pressed air beneathsaid hopper and adapted to open said hopper to receive a charge, meansactuated by compressed air for returning said carriage to a positionabove said mould to deliver the charge to said mould, means actuated bycompressed air for returning said carriage to a position above saidmould to deliver the charge to said mould, means actuated by compressedair for imparting a jigging motion to said mould and for ramming thematerial in the latter.

7. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, a hoppercontaining the material, a carriage movable by compressed air intoposition beneath said hopper to receive a charge, means operated by saidcarriage to open said hopper. and to actuate vanes for discharging thematerial therefrom into said carriage, and means for returning saidcarriage by compressed air into position for discharging the materialinto the mould.

8. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, a hoppercontaining the material to be agglomerated, a carriage movable bycompressed air into position beneath said hopper to receive a. charge,means peratecl by said carriage to open said hopper and to actuate vanesfor discharging material therefrom into said carriage, means forreturning said carriage by compressed air into position for dischargingthe material into the mold, and means operated by hand for allowing thematerial to fall from said carriage into said mould.

9. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, a hoppercontaining the material, a carriage adapted to be moved by compressedair into position beneath said hopper to receive a charge and then intoposition above said mould to deliver said charge, a ram for acting uponthe material in the mould, a cylinder actuating said ram by compressedair, a press-cylinder and means actuated by compressed air in saidpress-cylinder for imparting action to said mould.

10. An agglomerating machine for male ing hollow building blocks,comprising in combination a mould, cores in said mould, means fordelivering a charge to said mould, means for imparting a jigging motionto said mould and means for ramming the material into said mould and acore-removing mechanism operated by said jigging means.

11. An agglomerating machine comprising in combination a mould, a hoppercontaining the material, a carriage adapted to be moved by compressedair to said hopper to receive a charge and also by compressed air to aposition above said mould, said carriage comprising pivoted plates,manually operated means for allowing said plates to swing so as to allowthe charge to fall by gravity into said mould, means for imparting ajigging motion to said mould and means for ramming said material intosaid mould.

12. In a machine of the class described the combination of a mould, ahopper containing the material to be agglomerated, a carriage adapted tobe moved by compressed air under said hopper to receive a charge, saidcarriage comprising pivoted plates a jigging adapted to be locked inposition to hold the I charge.

13. In a machine of the class described the combination of a mould, a.hopper containing the material to be agglomerated, a carriage adapted tobe moved by compressed air under said hopper to receive a charge, saidcarriage comprising pivoted plates adapted to be locked in position tohold the charge and means for releasing said plates to allow them topivot under the weight of said charge to allow it to fall into themould.

14. In a machine of the class described the combination of a mould, ahopper containing the material to be agglomerated, a carriage adapted tobe moved by compressed air under said hopper to receive a. charge and tobe moved by compressed air into the position above said mould to deliverthe charge, the receptacles of said carriage being formed by pivotedplates, a shaft mounted in said carriage, helical surfaces on saidsha'tt adapted to hold said plates in closed relation and manuallyoperated means for rotating said shaft to release said plates to allowthem to pivot under the weight of said charge to deliver it to themould.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a mould, a.hopper containing the material to be agglomerated, a carriage adapted tobe moved by compressed air under said hopper to receive a charge and tobe moved by compressed air into position above said mould to deliver thecharge, plates pivoted on said carriage to term receptacles for thecharge, a shaft mounted in said carriage, helical surfaces on saidshaft, a handivheel. on said shaft for the purpose of rotating it tocause said helical surfaces to hold said plates in closed relation or topermit them to pivot under the weight of the charge to deliver thislatter to the mould.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mould,means for delivering a charge of material to said mould, means forramn'iing said material into said mould, a press-cylinder, projectionson said mould adapted to be engaged by means actuated by saidpress-cylinder to impart a jigging action to said mould.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mould,means fordelivering a charge of material to said mould, means forramming said material into said mould, cores in said mould, a bar towhich said cores are attached, means for imparting a igging motion tosaid mould, saidjigging means acting subsequently to remove the coresfrom the mould.

18. In a device of the class described, a mould consisting of side Wallshinged together and a removable plank inserted in notches in said sideWalls to form the bottom of the mould.

press-cylinder carried by said columns, a mould, a hopper containing thematerial, a

carriage, actuated by compressed air, to take a charge from said hopperand to deliver it to saidmould, means actuated by compressed air in saidpress-cylinder for 1mparting a igging motion to sald mould and a 'amactuated by compressed air in said by said columns, a. press cylindermounted concentrically around said ram cylinder, a mould, ahoppercontaining the material, a carriage actuated by compressed air to take acharge from said hopper and todeliver it to said mould, meansconnectingsaid presscylinder to said mould for imparting a jiggingmotion thereto by compressed air, and a ram actuated by compressed airin said ram-cylinder for ramming the material into said mould. i I

21. An agglomerating machine comprising guide-columns, a ram cylindercarried by said columns, a press cylinder mounted concentrically aroundsaid ram cylinder, a mould, cores adapted to fit in said mould, a barsurrounding said mould and fixed to said cores, a hopper containing thematerial, a carriage actuated by compressed air to take a charge fromsaid hopper and to deliver it to said mould, means actuated bycompressed air in said press-cylinder and impart a jigging motionthereto, means for ramming the material into'said mould and meansadapted to be'actuated by said presscylinder and connected to said barfor removing the cores from the mould.

PIERRE ANSELME IGNACE CUVELIER.

adapted. to be connected to said mould to 19. An agglomeratmg machinecompns mg guide-columns, a ram cylinder and a

